South Dakota Investment Council Cuts Stake in Gilead Sciences, Inc. $GILD

South Dakota Investment Council cut its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) by 59.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 29,246 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 43,072 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council’s holdings in Gilead Sciences were worth $3,246,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Trivium Point Advisory LLC raised its stake in Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the third quarter. Trivium Point Advisory LLC now owns 7,325 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $813,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC grew its position in Gilead Sciences by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 4,539 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $503,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Hemington Wealth Management increased its stake in Gilead Sciences by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 998 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Ignite Planners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.1% in the third quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 7,932 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $880,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Archer Investment Corp lifted its stake in shares of Gilead Sciences by 1.2% during the second quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 7,277 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $807,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.67% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Stock Up 0.3%

Gilead Sciences stock opened at $148.22 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $137.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $125.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market cap of $184.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.37. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has a 52 week low of $93.37 and a 52 week high of $157.29.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $7.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. Gilead Sciences had a return on equity of 49.46% and a net margin of 28.90%.Gilead Sciences’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.90 earnings per share. Gilead Sciences has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.450-8.850 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Gilead Sciences, Inc. will post 7.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Gilead Sciences Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is an increase from Gilead Sciences’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Gilead Sciences’s payout ratio is currently 46.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $160.00 price objective on shares of Gilead Sciences in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on Gilead Sciences from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $140.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Bank of America set a $162.00 price objective on Gilead Sciences and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, HSBC upped their target price on Gilead Sciences from $110.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Twenty-three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $156.72.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Johanna Mercier sold 28,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.44, for a total transaction of $4,324,320.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 120,288 shares in the company, valued at $18,577,278.72. This trade represents a 18.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey Bluestone sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.50, for a total value of $617,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,101,620. The trade was a 35.92% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 309,280 shares of company stock valued at $43,935,470. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Gilead Sciences Company Profile

Gilead Sciences, Inc, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Foster City, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines in areas of high unmet medical need. The company initially built its reputation in antiviral therapies and has since expanded into oncology, cell therapy and inflammatory diseases. Gilead operates a global research and commercial organization, conducting clinical development and selling medicines in markets around the world.

Gilead’s product portfolio is anchored by antiviral therapies for HIV and viral hepatitis.